Beyond Addiction

How Science and Kindness Help People Change

By: Jeffrey Foote PhD, Carrie Wilkens PhD, Nicole Kosanke PhD, Stephanie Higgs PhD

Narrated by: Randye Kaye

Beyond Addiction eschews the theatrics of interventions and tough love to show family and friends how they can use kindness, positive reinforcement, and motivational and behavioral strategies to help their loved ones change. Drawing on forty collective years of research and decades of clinical experience, the authors present the best practical advice science has to offer.

Delivered with warmth, optimism, and humor, Beyond Addiction defines a new, empowered role for friends and family and a paradigm shift for the field. Learn how to tap the transformative power of relationships for positive change, guided by exercises and examples. Practice what really works in therapy and in everyday life, and discover many different treatment options along with tips for navigating the system. And have hope: this guide is designed not only to help someone change but to help someone want to change.

©2014 Psychological Motivation and Change Group, PLLC (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Objectively written and conveyed with congenial authority, the book offers collective hope to families of substance abusers.... Essential." ( Kirkus)

Gives hope for addiction

What did you love best about Beyond Addiction?

It is a refreshing alternative to addiction treatment

Who was your favorite character and why?

The author

What does Randye Kaye bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Personal touch

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book gave me hope. It made me laugh and cry.

Any additional comments?

Elightened!

Not what I was looking for.

Would you try another book from the authors and/or Randye Kaye?

Yes

Would you be willing to try another book from the authors? Why or why not?

Yes, their research is good as well as the writing.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narration was good.

Any additional comments?

This book was written for families and friends of addicts, not for people dealing with addiction themselves. That fact could have been made more clear in the subtitle and description.

This book changed my life

Having a loved one who suffers from addiction can be devastating. Unlike other sources that tell you there is nothing you can do but walk away or wait for them to hit "rock bottom", the CRAFT model takes the point of view that your loved one will not change until the motivation to do so outweighs the motivations to remain the same. This book offers hope to loved ones by providing tools to effect the motivations for change, while also supporting the concept that is universal to ALL friends & family support groups- This is not your fault, You cannot make someone change, And you need to focus on your own self care.

Excellent Reference for Families

Once my loved admitted to an alcohol problem and wanted to enter treatment, I was left wondering what I should be doing in support of the decision. I tried a 12 step program but it did not jive with my personal philosophy, so I checked out several books on the subject. This book focuses on how families can improve communication, provide reinforcers, set goals, and problem solve before, during, and after a loved one with substance use problems enters treatment. Self care is emphasized and specific strategies described. The overall tone is understanding, optimistic, matter of fact. Methods are research based and explained in detail with meaningful examples. There are also sections explaining different options for treatment and how to find a provider that fits your needs, as well as descriptions of drugs commonly used to help treat substance abuse. I would recommend this book to any one who is concerned about a loved one’s substance use or compulsive behavior.

Phenomenal!

Considering changing a soecific vihavior means adjusting to many ither factors, this is the number one book anyone struggling with addiction could call the all in one support system needed to make any given change in your life. What an amazing book. Thank you, you changed my life forever.